United States Army Pigeon Service
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The United States Army Pigeon Service (a.k.a. Signal Pigeon Corps) was a unit of the United States Army during World War I and World War II. Their assignment was the training and usage of homing pigeons for communication and reconnaissance purposes.[1]
During WWII, the force consisted of 3,150 soldiers and 54,000 war pigeons, which were considered an undetectable method of communication. Over 90% of US Army messages sent by pigeons were received.[2] The pigeon G.I. Joe received the Dickin Medal for gallantry that saved at least 1,000 lives.
From 1917 until 1957, the US Army Pigeon Breeding and Training Center was based at Fort Monmouth, N.J. The US Army discontinued using pigeons as message carriers in 1957.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Levi, Wendell (1977). The Pigeon. Sumter, S.C.: Levi Publishing Co, Inc. ISBN 0-85390-013-2.
- ^ a b U.S. Army Communications Electronics Museum. "Famous Pigeons". http://www.monmouth.army.mil/museum/pigeons.shtml.
[edit] External links
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